Page 64 of His Property

“Right.” Gabi inhales a shaky breath, and she puts her face in her hands.

A minute passes with the room silent, but Gabi finally cracks. “I’m tired.” She sniffs. “I need to go lie down.”

“Sure.” I nod and walk around the table to her. I lift her from the chair and carry her to her room without either of us saying a word. As I walk back to the kitchen, I can’t help but think all the work I just did to calm her worries about me is leveled, and we’re back where we were yesterday. If not worse off.

I flop down in a chair next to Mae and put my hand to my forehead while propping my elbow on the table.

“I’m sorry,” I say, closing my eyes.

Mae takes the hand in my lap and scoots her chair closer to mine. “For what?”

Laughing dryly, I don’t respond.

I open my eyes to see Mae frowning, her gentle touch on my hand showing her compassion.

“You don’t need to be sorry, Victor. You didn’t do anything.”

“Right.” I drop my hand and subtly pull my other away from Mae. I lean back and sigh.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Does it seem like I want to talk about it?”

Mae doesn’t flinch from my harsh tone, but I still feel like shit and regret it a moment later. “I’m sorry.”

She shakes her head. “Don’t be.”

“Well, I am… I knew it was a possibility she’d show up here, and I could’ve warned you. Or better yet, not asked you to fix my shit.” I sigh and move my eyes toward Gabi’s room. “It was for nothing anyway.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

I move my eyes back to Mae, and she takes my hand again. I don’t shrug her away this time.

“Victor, Gabi loves you. More than anything. I get that your situation is um, unique, but I still don’t think there’s anything you could do to make her not love you.”

Including murder her father?

I want to laugh, but I let my annoyance at Mae’s optimism simmer. I’d rather not be a dick to her, especially after everything.

I lean back in my chair and run a hand over my face. “Fuck, I need a drink.”

“Make that two.”

I glance at her and raise my lips into a small smile. “I think you’ve had enough.”

She narrows her eyes. “I’m not drunk.”

I chuckle. “Maybe not anymore. My fucked-up family could sober anyone, but I’m afraid of what you look like after a shot of tequila.”

“Mmm,” Mae says, her nose wrinkling. “You’re right. I don’t do tequila.”

I flash her an amused grin then stand. “It’s cool. I’m actually going to head out. I need to blow off some steam. Thanks for coming over, though. It was really nice of you.”

“Of course,” she says, standing and tugging down the sleeves of her sweater. Her eyes are aimed to my left, and when she makes eye contact, she immediately looks away.

So fucking cute.

My cock stirs, but I keep my expression neutral. I know exactly what I need right now, and I also know Mae could give it to me. It’s killing me not to make a move, but I refrain. I’ve taken enough from her.

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